In Chennai
city roads (as also in many other cities) there is this ubiquitous transport
vehicle – Auto rickshaw. The hero is an
auto-driver in some movies (esp Rajini / Ajith). In many autos, one can see the pictures of
MGR, Rajinikanth, Ajith, as also some political leaders including Thiru.
Annamalai. Never imagined that one auto could have
this person’s picture on its front wind-shield glass !! No not this picture of
Virat Kohli ….. it is far, far different
!!
North Korea,
officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is an
East Asian country occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is a
highly centralized totalitarian state -
its Supreme leader is - Kim Jong Un, a position he has held since the death of
his father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011. He is the third leader in the Kim
dynasty, which has ruled the country since its founding by his grandfather, Kim
Il Sung, in 1948. Ri Sol-ju is the First Lady of North Korea and the wife
of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. Since 2018, she has held the official title of
"Respected First Lady," a significant elevation in status compared to
previous leaders' spouses.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has formally designated South Korea as the country’s “most hostile state,” marking a definitive legal and ideological break in inter-Korean relations. According to the North’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim codified a permanent state of enmity while signaling a “ready for any choice” posture toward the United States in his speech delivered on March 23 during the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA). The declaration represents the final institutionalization of the “two hostile states” doctrine Kim first introduced in late 2023. By addressing the rubber-stamp parliament, Kim effectively elevated the exclusion of South Korea from a partner for reconciliation to a matter of supreme state policy.
Kim has cited the
ongoing war in Iran as proof that North Korea's nuclear arsenal is necessary
for military deterrence against the United States. He declared North Korea's
nuclear status "irreversible".
Meantime, Belarusian President
Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Pyongyang on March 25, 2026, to sign a
fundamental friendship treaty and expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, and
healthcare.
Kim was educated in Switzerland at a state school
in Berne (1998–2001) before attending Kim Il Sung Military University in
Pyongyang. He is married to Ri Sol-ju. In recent years, his daughter, Kim
Ju-ae, has frequently appeared at official events, leading to speculation that
she is being groomed as his successor. His sister, Kim Yo Jong, is also a
high-ranking official.
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It’s
quite a striking contrast to see a portrait of a North Korean leader on an
autorickshaw, seen and photographed at Triplicane this evening. It's not uncommon for
drivers to decorate their vehicles with images of political figures, cine actors and Sports
personalities but this particular choice is definitely strange. When spoken to, the auto-driver simply said,
he wanted to be different from the crowd and hence this photo.
Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.3.2026
